)
While Gerald Gikonyo Kanyuira is regarded as the first Kenyan to own a car, the country’s history cars dates back to 1903 when the first car was imported into the country long before Gikonyo bought his car, an Austin.
The car was imported from France into the country via Mombasa port by Australian Road Engineer, George Wilson.
With a reputation of high-quality engineering and technology, De Dion Bouton was a popular car at the time and Wilson who was one of the engineers brought in by the colonial government to construct Kenyan highways imported one.
Learning how to drive
)
)
)
It arrived in the country at a time when the engineer did not know how to drive a vehicle, with no driving school or anyone to teach him how to drive it.
The maiden journey from Mombasa to Nairobi by road
READ: 'Ni simiti mbili tu…' and 7 other car borrower lies that end in tears
Consequently, Wilson had to self-teach himself how to operate a machine he had never owned before.
Repairs & maintenance
Aware that there were no mechanics or driving schools in the country, the company that sold the car to Wilson accompanied it with a manual detailing how he could drive it.
The risk of the car breaking down with no mechanic available to repair it was also there.
For this reason, Wilson received a manual from the car manufacturer with clear instructions on how to do basic repairs and maintenance.
READ: New KRA price list to affect used car import taxes starting July, here's what to know
It is these manuals that Kenya’s first car owner relied on to get his marvel of engineering moving, with locals queuing up to see the newest mode of transport.
The manufacturer did an excellent job as the car remained functional for decades with the engineer finally arriving in Nairobi in the car in 1929.
No fuel station? No problem
Owning a car at a time when the country did not have fuel stations, Wilson had to rely on the scarce fuel imports in the country to power his vehicle.
He used jerrycans to carry sufficient supplies of fuel as running out of the precious commodity in the middle of nowhere would spell doom.
READ: Inside Diana Marua's lavish car collection worth Sh77M
Another challenge is that other than tracks, the country did not have motorable roads at the time with the roads that existed at the time not having been designed for cars.
The Kenya-Uganda railway was the primary means of transport into the interior.
Wilson embarked on a daring adventure which took him through the wilderness of Tsavo as he made the first journey from Mombasa to Nairobi by road.
With jerrycans of fuels strapped onto his vehicle, the Australian engineer conquered what many though was impossible.
Bare minimum comfort
Comfort was not a consideration at the time and other than the seats, the car had nothing much to offer in terms of comfort but was still able to accomplish what it was meant to do: Move people and goods from one point to another.
READ: Class, elegance & luxury in Millicent Omanga’s car collection worth over 80 million
The first car in Kenya, the 1903 De Dion Bouton model (Courtesy)
Powered by a one-cylinder engine, Wilson cruised around in his latest acquisition at a heavy cost with a myriad f challenges which he embraced in his car-ownership journey and paved the way for many more to import cars.